Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Institutional Network Award for Promoting Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Research Training (U2C - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has announced its intent to publish a new Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled "Institutional Network Award for Promoting Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Research Training (U2C - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." The notice, NOT-DK-26-311, signals a continuation and expansion of a program that began in 2020 to restructure how institutional research training is conducted in the fields of nephrology, urology, and hematology. This funding opportunity will support the next generation of researchers in the KUH (Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic) disciplines by providing institutions the means to implement integrated, innovative training environments. In contrast to traditional National Research Service Award (NRSA) T32 training grants, this initiative encourages a holistic institutional approach. Each applicant institution can propose a single award supporting a minimum of five trainee positions, while also funding networking, outreach, and career development programming across scientific disciplines. The scope of the award covers both pre-doctoral and post-doctoral research training, aiming to foster a vibrant academic ecosystem. The U2C cooperative agreement mechanism will be used, and in conjunction with the TL1 activity code, it emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration and long-term institutional capacity-building for future KUH researchers. The funding is discretionary, with an estimated total program budget of $4,000,000. The maximum award per institution is expected to be $2,100,000, with approximately eight awards to be issued. Eligible applicants include a broad spectrum of U.S.-based organizations, such as higher education institutions (both public and private), nonprofit and for-profit entities (including small businesses), and various government entities at the state, county, municipal, and tribal levels. This indicates a high degree of accessibility for a wide range of institutions, with no cost-sharing or matching requirement imposed. Interested organizations should start preparing their collaborations and project concepts in advance of the official FOA release. The timeline for this opportunity includes an estimated post date of July 5, 2025, with the application deadline set for October 5, 2025. Awards are expected to be made by June 1, 2026, with projects officially starting on July 1, 2026. This timeline offers institutions a substantial lead time to coordinate internally and engage relevant faculty and staff. The initiative will allow NIDDK to continue evaluating the efficacy of this new training model, supporting efforts that emphasize integration, sustainability, and enhanced research capacity. For inquiries or further clarification, interested parties should contact Dr. Tracy Rankin at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Dr. Rankin can be reached by phone at (301) 594-4748 or by email at rankint@niddk.nih.gov.